According to the newspaper, which did not identify its sources, the project aims to increase the country’s oil output to 162,000 bpd. The project envisages 1,300 sq km of 2-D seismography, 1,018 sq km of 3-D seismography and the building of four production units, seven desalination units and seven compression stations.

Also in the pipeline are the fabrication of six gas injection stations, eight pumping stations, a 134 MW electricity network and 9,280 km of pipelines.

The first phase of development will see the drilling of four wells in Serkan, Cheshmeh-Khosh and Maleh Kouh fields to a TD of 12,350 metres. The four wells are expected to cost the Iranian government US$20 million.